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Beaufort County approves up to $42M toward New River Forest purchase after months of public questions
Summary
After extensive public comment and council questioning about appraisals, wetlands and reimbursement commitments, Beaufort County Council voted 9–2 to authorize up to $42 million to help The Nature Conservancy acquire the New River Forest. Council required public‑access assurances and described reimbursement timelines.
Beaufort County Council voted 9–2 on June 22 to authorize up to $42,000,000 in county funds to support The Nature Conservancy’s proposed purchase of the New River Forest in the town of Bluffton.
The decision came after more than an hour of public comment and council questions about due diligence and access. Jennifer Albero, speaking for Palmetto Bluff residents, urged a delay and additional study: “We do not oppose conservation. However, we strongly oppose rushing to spend $42,000,000 of taxpayer money based on an appraisal that appears fundamentally incomplete,” she told the council, saying appraisals ignored a February perpetual covenant that restricts development on more than 5,600 acres.
Why it matters: The purchase would place thousands of acres into conservation and, according to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and state forestry staff, would remove development potential that local residents and conservation groups have cited as a threat to low‑country wetlands and marshes. Supporters said the county contribution is matched in part by the town of Hilton Head and that the acquisition would protect shoreline, wetlands and public safety concerns tied to future development.
Council asked for specifics on timelines and guarantees. TNC and state forestry representatives said the county grant would be reimbursable as TNC secures at least $20 million in state or grant funding within an agreed window. TNC’s project manager explained the organization would work with the Forestry Commission on stewardship and public access planning; the Forestry Commission will lead longer‑term management if the purchase completes. Staff described a contractual option that would allow Beaufort County an opportunity to purchase the tract for a nominal amount if agreed conditions (including reimbursement commitments) are not met within the contract’s timeline.
Concerns and conditions: Council members repeatedly asked for clarity about wetland delineations, the development agreement currently associated with the tract, how long public access would take, and how quickly reimbursements would materialize. Councilman Bartholomew and others pressed for a timeline; staff and TNC suggested public access would likely follow post‑closing transition work and safety planning and estimated opening could be late in the calendar year or in the months immediately after closing if state resources and management arrangements are in place.
Vote and next steps: The council adopted a motion that also added language requiring direct physical public access acceptable to the county (an amendment offered earlier in the meeting). The motion passed on roll call 9–2. The grant agreement authorized by the resolution will be finalized with the Nature Conservancy; that contract will specify reimbursement milestones and the county’s option to acquire the property should funding commitments fail to materialize. The Nature Conservancy told council that no mitigation‑bank application for the site is currently pending and that conservation and public‑access plans will be coordinated with state partners.
The council directed staff and the Nature Conservancy to continue coordinating details, and members said they expect periodic updates on grant awards and public‑access planning.
